Baba Jamal, the new Deputy Minister of Information has begun badly with a faux pas, as it is known among some writers.
He does not appear ready to wean off his bellicose stance against a section of the media and the populace, even before he settles down in the hamper-ridden propaganda ministry.
In his first post-nomination radio interview yesterday on Oman FM, he sought to impugn the integrity of DAILY GUIDE, a wasted opportunity to stretch a hand of friendship to the medium after a chequered tenure as deputy Regional Minister in the Eastern Region, which the newspaper followed closely.
His curriculum vitae include unenviable entries of supervising two bloody by-election campaigns dubbed, ‘the Baba Jamal jihad’ on behalf of the NDC.
His mastery over lies even when caught red-handed spreading hate remarks in the name of jihad has perhaps earned him the favours of the powers that be.
The Information Ministry is however a peculiar turf where lies and violence may be of little value. We are sure he would soon learn that; and may be the hard way.
Much as he tried to do a soft landing in his maiden post-nomination interview, the manouvre was a screeching one, the kind witnessed when a pilot tries to be on top of a malfunctioning aircraft in bad weather, lying between his teeth.
He sounded like the Baba Jamal who hopped from mosque to mosque in Akwatia inciting Zongo residents about an imaginary attack by some beings from outer space, thereby stoking the fire of hatred and violence during the by-election in the constituency.
This was the jihad he really meant and not the true sense of the Islamic word. Yes this is contemporary jihad as opposed to those of the formative days of Islam when converts fought to parry attacking atheists who were ready to kill them.
The jihad he engaged in the Akwatia Zongo was that intended to incite residents to take up whatever arms they had at their disposal during the by-election and to snatch ballot boxes.
The sarcasm in his remarks were unacceptable for a man who is about to work in an Information portfolio, having stated that Nana Akufo Addo has taken over the title of jihadist from him.
Nana’s jihad is the one concerned about stalling the bad intentions of those who do not wish the country’s democracy well and are ready to steal ballot boxes and call the bluff of powerless security agencies who dare them.
Resisting oppressors’ rule as done by Egyptians is as much a jihad as the call by the NPP flag bearer to his supporters not to allow mischievous elements to derail our democratic process.
President Mills’ subtle admission that the Information Ministry is still not ticking as it should be through the nomination of Baba Jamal is rather interesting and revealing. Unfortunately however the action would only augment the image of violence and attract poor PR for his government.
With the Information Ministry robbed of respectability and reduced to a Third Reich type propaganda department under Goebbels, the transfer of the Akwatia man will do nothing to alter the status quo since the man is considered a serial liar.
On the contemptuous remark about Daily Guide by the violent jihadist, we dare state in all humility that we do not need the testimonial of persons who lack the moral grounds to preach political morality in the country.
If Baba Jamal, a political Taliban, has already profiled the media and deems Daily Guide unworthy of his recognition, so be it. By the grace of God we have a wonderful, discerning readership whose patronage over the years has seen us this far.
Baba Jamal has by his unguarded remarks hurled the first stone at the very constituency he is supposed to collaborate with in his new assignment. We have been adequately forewarned and we shall forearm ourselves appropriately.